Elastic Belt Suspenders

ABSTRACT

The method and apparatus for securing a lower garment over a garment wearer&#39;s stomach to keep the lower garment from drooping without the need to secure the lower garment to an upper garment or to require the need for a separate waist belt. An elastic belt with Velcro is connected to suspender clips which are attached to the lower garment before the garment is worn. When the lower garment is worn, the garment is pulled up with the belt suspenders and secured over the stomach, and when the wearer is comfortable, the Velcro is pressed together. The apparatus are designed to be worn under an upper garment that is not tucked into the lower garment. The benefits of this invention are that it holds up the lower garment without the need for traditional suspenders, and it provides the wearer with a more attractive appearance because the apparatus is covered by the upper garment and holds the stomach in, giving the wearer a slimmer look.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention, the Elastic Belt Suspender is in the field of clothing and in particular relates to the securing of the lower garment so that the top of the lower garment fits across the stomach and the lower garment does not droop, comfortably providing the wearer with a slimmer profile and a convenient means to adjust the lower garment's position on the wearer. This invention eliminates the need to wear a separate belt across the lower garment or to wear suspenders across an upper garment and connecting to a lower garment.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

Lower garments such as trousers are traditionally held up by the use of belts or suspenders. Belts typically insert into belt loops to hold the trousers around the waist. The success of the belt depends on whether the wearer has a flat stomach. If the stomach is not flat the extra weight from the stomach pushes the trousers down causing an unattractive drooping look. A trouser wearer will often begin wearing suspenders which attach to the lower garment and then pull over the upper garment using shoulder straps which adjust to keep the lower garment from dropping. For active and casual clothing wearers, the use of suspenders is not practical. The style for casual clothing is to wear the upper garment so that the bottom of the garment is worn over the lower garment, i.e. not tucked into the lower garment. Suspenders then have to be worn under the upper garment. That creates inconvenience to the wearer who has to take his shirt off when he needs use a restroom for accessing the lower garment. Suspenders are considered “older persons” clothing and just doesn't match aesthetically when the upper garment is a Hawaiian or golf, or a tee shirt, or alternatively, when sweaters are worn over trousers. Additionally, this type of clothing is often used for sports and other leisure activities such that the wearing of suspenders hinders body movement and agility.

Furthermore, studies show most Americans are overweight. For many overweight Americans, the excess weight is visible through a flabby stomach. Suspenders and belts do nothing to enhance the appearance of the wearer's stomach which extends over the lower garment frustrating the wearer's expectation of a healthy slim look.

Other methods and apparatus have tried to improve upon the deficiencies of belts and suspenders. However, these products require either connecting the lower and upper garments together or require the upper garment to be tucked into the lower garment. They are difficult to attach the garments to, awkward to wear and remove, and only minimally address improving the appearance of the wearer. This invention the Elastic Belt Suspender solves these deficiencies.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAGRAM

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated when the following detailed description is taken in conjunction with the accompanying figure, wherein:

FIG. 1 is the first and only view of the invention. It shows the invention as a user would view and wear. There are three (3) components to the belt. The first component is an elastic belt. The second component is a hook and loop quick release (Velcro). The third component is quantities of suspender clips. FIG. 1 is more thoroughly explained in the Description of the Invention and in the Preferred Embodiment of the Invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Elastic Belt Suspenders are designed to be worn under a shirt or sweater that is not tucked into the trousers, such as a golf or Hawaiian shirt, or sweater worn over the pants.

The accompanying diagram FIG. 1, entitled “Belt Suspenders by George F. Lewis Sep. 5, 2007” shows the preferred embodiment of the invention. The Elastic Belt Suspender in its preferred embodiment is an elastic 3 inch wide belt (see item “1” of diagram) with six suspender clips, (see item “2” of diagram), 2 in front, one on each side, and two on the back. It is fastened in the front with Velcro, hook and loop, quick release (see item “3” of diagram). The preferred method is that the suspender clips be attached to the trousers before the wearer puts them on. When the trouser or alternative lower garment is put on, the wearer will pull the garment up with the Elastic Belt Suspenders over the wearer's stomach to where the wearer obtains a comfortable fit. The wearer then presses the Velcro together to hold the garment securely in place. The Elastic Belt Suspender keeps the garment from drooping, keeps the stomach in, and gives the wearer a slimmer profile. The Elastic Belt Suspender does not attach or inhibit a wearer's shirt or alternative upper garment. The Elastic Belt Suspender is worn inconspicuously underneath the upper garment. The upper garment does not have to be removed to access the Elastic Belt Suspender.

The Elastic Belt Suspender solves the deficiencies of existing products by not requiring that a belt or similar device be put around the waist first, than the lower garment is picked up, and tightened or attached to another garment. Instead, the Elastic Belt Suspender is attached beforehand to the lower garment, and becomes a part of that lower garment, all on and off as one unit.

During the summer months, typical users of the Elastic Belt Suspender will be wearing slacks or shorts, and a golf shirt or some other causal top outside the slacks or shorts. The Elastic Belt Suspenders are concealed under the shirt. The snug fit of the Elastic Belt Suspender will hold the user's stomach in, to provide a slimmer appearance for the user. The user will feel better about his or herself and will have more confidence when participating in active and leisure activities because the Elastic Belt Suspender does not encumber movement and makes the user appear in better shape.

During the colder weather, typical users of the Elastic Belt Suspender will wear a shirt tucked into trousers and a sweater or vest over the shirt. The Elastic Belt Suspender is worn on top of the shirt and the sweater or vest is put on over the Elastic Belt Suspender. The Elastic Belt Suspender is completely private and is worn inconspicuously.

Women as well as men can wear the Elastic Belt Suspender to hold up slacks, shorts or skirts. When a woman wears the Elastic Belt Suspender, she will wear a blouse or jacket over it to conceal the Elastic Belt Suspender. The Elastic Belt Suspender will serve as a girdle, holding her stomach in, giving her a slimmer profile.

The Elastic Belt Suspender will be manufactured in three sizes—Small (36 to 38 inches), Medium (38 to 40 inches), and Large (40 to 42 inches), though the inventor reserves and claims the right to add additional sizes. Typical embodiments include (a) using an elastic belt of 30 inches long that will stretch to 38 inches for a Small size; (b) using an elastic belt of 32 inches long that will stretch to 40 inches for a Medium size; and (c) using an elastic belt 34 inches that will stretch to 42 inches for the Large size.

During manufacturing of the belt suspenders, in the preferred embodiment, a six inch strip of Velcro (hook) is sewn on the outside at one end of the elastic belt, and a two inch strip of Velcro (loop) is sewn on the inside at the other end, allowing the user to adjust (loosen or tighten) for a comfortable fit. The accompanying diagram FIG. 1 shows the area of the elastic belt (item “1”, where the hook and loop quick release (Velcro) (item “2”) is fastened. The elastic fabric used can be any commodity yarn including polypropylene, polyester, cotton, nylon, acrylic, jute, hemp, rayon, wool and heather. The invention can be manufactured with a wide variety of suspender clips commonly used in the trade. Different embodiments of the invention will vary the number and positioning of the suspender clips around the belt, to provide for optimal support distribution and comfort for the user.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A diagram of the preferred embodiment of the Elastic Belt Suspender is provided as FIG. 1. Item 1 is the elastic belt, item 2 is the hook and loop quick release (Velcro), and item 3 shows the suspender clips. Visually, the diagram depicts the hook and loop quick release (Velcro) being affixed to what the wearer would consider to be the front of the belt. In the diagram, the suspender clips are illustrated to be showing the preferred embodiment of the invention with six clips positioned around the belt,—a clip positioned to either side of the hook and loop quick release (Velcro), a clip on either side of the belt where the wearer would have the belt positioned at the left and right side of his body, and clips on the back end of the belt where the wearer would have the belt positioned at his back. In this embodiment, the wearer attaches the clips to the lower garment before wearing and once the elastic belt suspender is attached to the lower garment the lower garment and elastic belt suspender is put on by the wearer and once positioned comfortably around the wearer's midsection, the hook and loop quick release (Velcro) is secured. 

1. A belt suspender comprising an elastic fabric belt affixed with more than one suspender clips and sewn with Velcro—hook and loop—quick release at each end of the fabric.
 2. The belt suspender of claim 1 where there are at least six suspender clips affixed to the elastic fabric belt.
 3. The belt suspender of claim 2 where the suspender clips are positioned two in front, one on each side and two in the back.
 4. The belt suspender of claim 1 where the fabric for the belt is 3 inches wide.
 5. The belt suspender of claim 1 where the length of the belt is at least 30 inches long
 6. The belt suspender of claim 5 where the length of the belt is between 30 inches and 34 inches.
 7. The belt suspender of claim 3 where the fabric for the belt is 3 inches wide and the length of the belt is between 30 inches and 34 inches with elasticity of at least 36 inches.
 8. The belt suspender of claim 7 where a six inch strip of Velcro (hook) is sewn on the outside at one end of the fabric and a two inch strip of Velcro (loop) is sewn on the inside at the other end of the fabric.
 9. A method for securing a lower garment worn on the human body which comprises: Attaching an elastic fabric belt which contains suspender clips and Velcro—hook and loop—quick release to the not yet worn lower garment using the suspender clips. Placing the lower garment and attached elastic fabric on the body Pulling the elastic fabric belt up around the stomach until it fits tightly and securely holds the lower garment in place. Fastening the elastic fabric by closing the Velcro—hook and loop—quick release. Putting on an upper garment to cover the elastic fabric belt that is attached to the lower garment. 